Splash-feed-lubrication organization



L. E. ARNGLIQ SPLASH FEED LUBRICATION ORGANIZATION July 6 1926e Filed June 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 6 i926s I L.. E. ARNGLQ SPLASH FEED LUBRICATION ORGANIZATION Filed Jun 4. 19241 2 Sheetsheet 2 Patented July 6, 1926.

taign UNITE@ STTS FFCE.

LLOYD EDWIN animan,

This invention relates to splash feed lubrication for Waste packed oil lubricated bearings and particularly adapted for ap.- plication to 'electric motor bearings, and th'e principal object of the same is to decrease the Wear and heating of bearing surfaces through the medium of a housing or end closure that is dust proof and oil tight and provided with a novel and effective splash feed lubricating organization.

A further object of the invention is to decrease oil consumption by making the housing or end closure positively oil tight and also reduce maintenance cost by providing devices by which the maximum and minimum oil levels may be readily determined.

lVith these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention primarily consists in a novel construction of a clust-proof, oil-tight housing or end closure together with an effectively operating splash feed lubricating organization, and also in the various detail construction and arrangement of the several parts and combina-tion of cooperating components, all of which Will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section taken centrally7 through the pinion or driving head extremity of an electric motor, showing the improved splash feed lubricating organization applied thereto;

2 is a view similar to Fig. l, shout.- ing the improved organization applied to the commutator or current-collecting end of an electric motor and illustrating a slight variation in the construction and arrangement of the parts;

Fig'. 3 is an elevation of a combined oil splash ring and thrust collar embodying further variations in the construction and constituting one of the essential features of theinvention; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on thev line 4 4, Fig. 3.

The improved splash feed lubricating organization is shown applied in the drawings to an electric motor, but it Will be understood that it is proposed to use the saine in connection with any other mechanism to which it may be found applicable and ser-v viceable in effecting` the functions and ad vantages incident to the improved or a tion. "it 'will also he understood Application filed June 4,

OF DETECTIVE, MIC-I'GAN.

SlLASH-FEED--LUBRIGATION ORGANIZATGLN.

1924.-. Serial N0. 717,734.

housing or end closure may be modified to adapt the same to various types of bearing structures Without in the least departing from the general principle and spirit of the invention, and furthermore changes in the proportions and dimensions as ivell as the minor details of construction may be adopted Without in the least departing from the essential features of the improvement.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the frame of an electric motor, which is constructed as usual in accordance with various types of machines of this class7 and disposed vithin this frame in the usual manner is a shaft 6 which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, has a rotor 7 secured thereto. As shovvn by Fig. 17 the shaft 6 is extenued and reduced to receive a driving gear 8, Whereas in Fig. 2 the shaft 6 terminates in a butt end, as is common in electric motors.

The improved organization includes a housing 9, which is preferably in one piece casting and ribbed to lighten the same Without reducing the necessary strength thereof, and has its outer diameter machined or recessed, as at 10, for projection into and close engagement with the motor frame 5, to which it is suitably secured against movement. The housing 9 is cored out and machined on its inner diameter, as at 117 Fig. 1. to receive a bearing` 12 and hold it in place on the shaft 6. the inner diameter of the housing and the bearing being shaped for snug association and retention of the bearing. To reliably placev and hold the bearing 12 and the central portion of the housing 9 in position relatively to the bearing, the center of the said housing has an annular hub flange 13, which is machined outY as hereinbefore explained, the recess produced by machining the said hub flange extending only partivay through the length'of the 'flange to leave an inner annular' collar or projection 14;. which closely embraces the shaft 6 and has suitable rccesses therein for receiving felt dust rings 15, to form a tight dust-excluding joint at this point. The upper portion of the flange 13 and the bearing 12 are also formed with alined openings 16 therethrough to permit the lubricant to be fed to the shaft in a maner which will be hereinafter' explained.` The housing 9 also has outer annular 'iange '372 to ivliicli is sccured an end plate 18 by suitable fastening devices, this end plate being also annular and having a central opening 19 of considerably greater diameter than the shaft G. The annular 'lange 17 at the upper and low-er portions thereof is formed with screw-threaded ports 2O and 21 normally closed by screiv plugs 22 and 23, the said ports serving respectively as means for supplying and draining the oil from the lubricating organization.

One of the most essential features of the improvement is a combined oil splash ring and thrust collar generally designated by 211 and having a central collar member 25, Which is suitably secured to the shaft 6, this collar member being of the same outside diameter as the opening 19 through the end plate 18, and fitted in the Wall of the opening 19 are dust rings 26, which exclude dust rfrom this part of the organization. The end plate 8 has a semi-annular rib 27, which projects over an annular groove or oil-receiving channel 23 formed in the upper inner portion of the collar member 25, to effect a regular drainage of the oil from the outer portion of the splash ring member 29 and conduct the said oil to the lower part of the organization or into a sump 30. The splash ring member 29 is composed of a series of segmental parts as illustrated in Fig. 3, and each part comprises a supporting member 31 projected in- Wardly from the inner portion of the collar member 25 and having an oil-carrying member 32 formed With an outer long flange 33 and an inner shorter flange 3e, the said flanges being intermediately divided by a partition rib 35, which strengthens the same and also facilitates in providing oil pockets. A gear case 36 is applied over the projected end of the shaft 6 and the gear 8 ad engages an annular shoulder 3T formed at the outer central portion of the end plate 1S, this gear case advantageously contriluiting toV the enclosure of the bearing and effective operation of the improved lubricating organization by excluding direct engageA ment ofV dust or dirt at the joint between the collar'member 25 and the Wallrof the opening 19 of the end plate 13.

In the application of the improved device as shown by Fig. 2 the structure is essentially the same as that just explained except that the outer flange 33 of each oil-carrying member 32l is longer than the flange 33 of the member 32 shown by Fig. 1, and the thrust collar member 25- of the combined Oil splash ring and thrust collar is of smaller dimensions than the member shown by Fig. 1. A further variation in construction shown by Fig. 2 is that `the inner central portion of the housing 9 or the hub flange 13 is formed Without the collar or projection 11i as shown by Fig. 1 and extends longitudinally straight, as at 33, and has at its inner terminal dust rings 3i), which direetly engage a collar l() on the shaft 6. in the structure shown by llig. 2 also an end plate .l1 extends fully across the outer tei'- minal of the improved organization and is secured to the outer annular flange 1T of the housing 9 and constitutes a final closure, the only openings formed in the body4 of the end plate 41 between the outer fastening means therefor and screw-threaded openings l2 for upper and lovver stop cocls 4:3 and t. The slight variations in construction just explained in the application of the improvement as shown by Fig. 2 do not in the least change the general opera.- tion of the essential features of the invention, Isaid features being the saine in both applications, and those parts in Fig. 2 which have not been particularly referred to as having variations in structure have reference characters applied thereto similar to those applied to Fig. 1. in the variation of structure shoivn by Fig. 2- the collar member 25 is also formed Without the oilreceiving channel or groove 28 shown by Fig. 1, and the oil at the outer side of the combined oil splash ring and thrust collar shown by Fig. 2 Will flow doufnwardly over the end of the shaft into the sump 30. The inner annular hub flange 13 of the housing S) and the bearing 12 also have communicating openings 16 ysimilar to the structure shown by Fig. 1, to permit the oil thrown inwardly by the oil splash ring to readily pass to and lubricate the shaft 6.

The structure shown by Figs. 3 and 4f, which illustrate the combined oil splash ring and thrust collar, is essentially the same as the similar devices heretofore described, and as hereinbefore specified, each combined splash ring and thrust collar will be composed of a series of segmental members or oil carriers 415 radiating from the central thrust collar member 25, there being by preference three of these oil carriers arranged equal distances Vapart with relation to the said thrust collar member. In the structure shown by Figs. 3 and 1l. the supporting members i6 extending outwardly from the inner portion of the thrust collar member 25 are disposed at an inivard angle of inclination and the oil carrying membe 1s or cups ai' stand at a corresponding inclination and have outer inuf'ardly curved comparatively long [langes 413 and inner flanges 19 having inner straight Walls merging into the inner walls of the flanges Z18, the members or cups l-'T being Vcentrally divided by a partition rib 50, as in the construction heretofore described. The inner side of the thrust collar member' 25 is also formed with a circular recess or seat 51, to permit the said collar and oil splash ring to be fitted up close to the remaining parts of the improved organi z'ation and particularly with respect to Athe outer terminal of the bearing l2. ln this structure, also, the channel or groove 28 surrounds `the thrust collar member 25, to receive the oil flowing from the outer side of the carriers l5 and conduct such oil back lor downwardly to the sump.

The operation of the improved oil splash ring and thrust collar component is very simple, and als the same rotates with the shaft the oil is carried up by the pockets in either form of the latter illustrated and thrown inwardly and over upon the upper portion of the hub liange 'lf3 and through the alined feed openings 16 in the said flange and the bearing l2, and thereby reaches the shaft 6, with eiiiciency in lubricating the latter and overcoming the numerous disadvantages incident to heating and wear of the cooperating parts of the bearing. It is also obvious that a part of the oil will reach the shaft at regular intervals with economy in the use of the oil. Furthermore, in accordance with the jointure between the several parts, exterior and interior leakage of the oil will be obviated and dust and grit will be entirely excluded from the improved bearing. The supply of oil may be replenished through the upper port 2O by removing the plug 22 and afterwards replacing the latter, and when found necessary, the oil may be drawn from the sump through the lower port 2l by removing the plug 23. Moreover, as shown by Fig. 2, the level of the oil to be maintained within the structure may be readily controlled through the use of the two cocks 43 and 44C, the upper cock indicating the maximum allowable oil level and the lower cock the minimum allowable oil level. The oil splash ring is so designed in each form shown as to cause the longer out-er flange or blade. to throw the oil inwardly more eiiiciently at high speeds, and the inner' shorter flange or blade in each instance is so shaped as to throw the oil better at low speeds.

In addition to the advantages hereinbefore specified in connection with the improved lubricating organization, the use of the oil cocks will give better results in maintenance and fewer bearing failures, and these cocks constitute a more positive means of control as to the supply of oil necessary in the organization than the means heretofore used in connection with waste packed oil lubricated bearings. It is also possible to reduce the bearing dimensions inview of the improved positive lubrication and also the weight is reduced, and as a consequence there will be a material saving in power.

What is claimed as new is:

1.111 asplash feed lubricating organization of the class specified, the combination with a shaft, of a bearing therefor having an opening through the same, a housing cored out and machined on its inner diameter to receive the bearing, the center of the said housing having an annular huh flange engaging over the hearing and having an opening extending partway therethrough coinciding with the opening in the bearing, and an oil splash ring and thrust hearing member of unitary structure applied to the shaft, the splash ring having outer inwardly projecting pockets, the housing receiving the oil which is delivered by the po Iliets of the splash ring to the hub and bearing,

2. ln a splash feed lubricating organization of the class specified, the combination with a shaft having a bearing with an opening the "ethrough, a housing with a hub eX- tending over the bearing and also provided with an opening therein in communication with the opening of the bearing, the housing serving as means to receive the oil, and a unitary thrust collar and oil splash ring applied to the shaft and having outer peripheral pockets projected from the inner side of the ring over the hub and bearing, the pockets being formed with the inner open portions divided by intermediate transverse partitions for carrying oil. and throwing the same inwardly onto the hub and shaft bearing.

3. ln an oil splash feed lubricating organization of the class specified, the combination with a shaft having a bearing with an opening therethrough, of a housing for a portion of the shaft and bearing, said housing having an inwardly projecting hub fitted to and held closely in connection with the bearino and provided with an opening communicating with the opening through the bearing, and a unitary thrust collar and oil splash ring secured to the shaft and operating within the housing, the splash ring being provided with outer oil-carrying pockets which project inwardly over the hub and bearing and have inner open sides for effecting a "delivery of the oil directly onto the hub and bearing, end closure being applied to the thrust collar of the unitary splash ring and collar and secured to the housing.

4;. ln an oil splash feed lubricating organization of the class specified, the combination with shaft having a bearing with an opening therethrough of an enclosing housing for a portion of the shaft and bearing and having an inwardly projecting hub closely embracing the bearing and provided with an opening therethrough communicating with the opening of the bearing, the housing being formed with shoulder means to abut against one end of the bearing, and a unitary thrust collar and splash ring secured on the shaft, the splash ring having outer inwardly projected pockets to deliver the oil directly over the huh and bearing.

5. n an oil splash feed lu ricating organ- Cfl Yie

ization of the class specified, the combination With a shaft and bearing therefor haV- ing an opening therethrough, of a housing for a portion of the shaft and hearing provided with it hub extending inwardly over the hearing and also formed with an opening communicating with the opening of the hearing, and an oil splash ring mounted on the shaft and having 'radially disposed, inwardly opening and inclined oil pockets which project over a portion of the bearing and huh, the interior of the housing between the splash ring und the bearing and hub being open to the said pockets for unobstructed deposit of the oil upon the hub and hearing, the pockets having outer long flanges projected ylongitudinally into the open space in the housing and shortei1 lower flanges to effect a throwing of the oil against the inner wall of the housing and doWn- Wardly onto the bearing and huh.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LLOYD EDT/VIN ARNOLD. 

